Batman: Dark Age

Batman: Miniseries

by Mark Russell, Michael Allred (Artist), Laura Allred (Colorist)

Meet Bruce Wayne, Gotham’s favorite delinquent son, shaped by a city in turmoil. Setagainst the backdrop of actual historical events, Gotham City comes alive, filled with the iconic characters who’ve loved and hated Batman over the years like you’ve never seen them before. Mark Russell and Mike Allred return to give audiences a look at Batman as a figure in American history fighting for justice in a world gone mad.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Action

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2025

About the author

Mark Russell is the author of God Is Disappointed in You and Apocrypha Now. He also writes the comic book series Prez and The Flintstones for DC Comics. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I took a look at the art, and I was not impressed. I thought it was looked a bit dated. However, as it is starting in the 60s, it works.

It is the year 2030, and elderly Bruce Wayne is in an old people's home. Losing his memories, he I'd encouraged to write them down so they are not lost forever. How did this version of Bruce Wayne become Batman? Was it a life worth living?

A good book, that is surprisingly longer read than I was expecting. It's not my favourite artwork, but it works with the story and time period. I like the different origins of the classic Batman characters, both heroes and villains, as well as other DC characters. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery.

[Molly™☺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. A wonderful spin on the Batman mythos that adds unique flair and flavour to the familiar. There are some really interesting takes on pre-estsblished points, as well as fun character diversions which help to make Dark Age stand out. The ending may be the weakest part, but the memorable quotes and story beats more than make up for the comparatively rough landing.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

Not quite as good as Superman: Space Age but it was still a bloody good read. Beautiful art from the Allreds, as always.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Bruce Wayne in a nursing home reflects on his life as Batman. It's part of the same continuity as Superman: Space Age and has the same creative team.

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the success of Superman: Space Age, Mark Russell and the Allreds return to deliver a similar alternate, out-of-continuity take on the Caped Crusader. Batman: Dark Age takes some liberties with the Batman mythos, but ultimately still feels fairly familiar to long-time fans of the character. The story opens to an aged Bruce Wayne who lives in a retirement facility, with his physical and mental state having finally deteriorated from his advanced age. The elderly Bruce reminisces about his career as Batman, with his crime fighting in Gotham set against the growth of the nation from the 60's through the '80s.

There are substantial changes made to the character here, starting as early as the murder of the Waynes. Bruce is no longer a witness to a random mugging gone wrong; instead, Thomas and Martha are subject to an assassination led by the False Face Society, who are also the powers behind the corporate takeover at Wayne Industries. Bruce's adolescence is lived out in fear of another assassination attempt on his life, with Alfred keeping a hawkish eye on the boy. But growing up sheltered and wealthy leads to a spoiled brat of a child, and his ensuing delinquency leads him to prison, and later, enlisted in Vietnam. It's during his time serving in North Vietnam that Bruce is placed under the command of Ra's Al Ghul, and this training will precipitate the formation of one of Gotham's greatest vigilantes.

Batman: Dark Age progresses through various periods of history, showing Batman's evolution as a crimefighter. He continues to face off against the False Face Society and the other organized crime elements, but the more colorful rogues gallery also comes into formation too. Batman goes on to meet the other great pantheon of DC superheroes, working alongside the newly minted Justice League as well. But as their gaze focuses ever wider on cosmic level threats, Batman continues to advocate primarily for the improvement of Gotham and her people. Mark Russell subtly adds in political subtext wherever he can, and here it comes in the form of Batman's vision of a city of the future, a goal first formed by Bruce's parents. So while Superman and others focus on the impending Crisis on Infinite Earths, it's Batman who continues to focus on the destruction of corrupt institutions in Gotham.

Like Space Age, this story has the same wistful and almost nostalgic gaze for a classic character. Humor is sprinkled in here and there - as is Russell's sensibilities - but Dark Age is ultimately about Bruce contextualizing his own career, both the good and the bad. As he puts it, "memory simply being the name we give to the scar tissue of life." Though told primarily through the eyes of a battered and broken older man, the Batman we see at the end of it all is still a towering figure in just spirit alone.

[David Cordero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russell and Allred are like Batman and Robin

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining, Allreds-infused alternate take on DC Continuity to act as a companion piece to Superman: Space Age by the same author.

While it didn't blow my mind necessarily it did work to put Bruce Wayne's life and career as a costumed crime-fighter in some real mid-20th century context, including his stint in 'Nam serving under Ra's al-Ghul as part of Uncle Sam's very own League of Shadows working behind enemy lines, Colonel Kurtz-style.



Recommended, though you should probably read Space Age first.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Batman: Dark Age collects issues 1-6 of the DC Comics series written by Mark Russel, art by Michael Allred, and colors by Laura Allred.

Set in the same universe and a companion piece to Superman: Space Age, Batman: Dark Age is a reimagining of the Batman mythos set in the 1960s through the 80s. The story is framed around a narrative structure of an elderly Bruce Wayne in a nursing home, trying to recall his memories.

Not having witnessed the murder of his parents by the False Face Society gang, Bruce becomes a troubled youth, often finding himself on the wrong side of the law. He takes a deal to serve in the Vietnam War to lower a prison sentence where he is assigned to be in the special forces under the command of guerrilla warfare expert Ra’s Al Ghul. Ra’s teaches his commando group all about tactics, fighting, and becoming one with the darkness.

Returning to Gotham City after the war, Bruce no longer recognizes his city. To make matters worse, Wayne Enterprises is managed by unfriendly faces who do not care about Thomas Wayne’s vision of a Gotham City of the future. With the help of Lucious Fox who has been discarded deep in the underbelly of Wayne Tower, Bruce adopts police and military technology to become the Batman to reclaim his city.

While there were some tie-ins to historical events, I wish Dark Age dived as deep into American history and politics as Superman: Space Age. Dark Age reimagines a lot of origin stories, villains, and events but largely keeps Bruce’s closest confidants and connections the same. It is a wordy book that feels much longer than 6 issues, but tells an interesting story. Like Superman: Space Age, one of the best parts is the Allreds’ beautiful and unique art.

[Ignacio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Otros mundos que cuenta una historia de Batman de principio a fin. Fiel a su persona, Russell desplaza el tablero de los villanos hacia otras coordenadas para situar sobre él los poderes políticos y económicos (en connivencia con los criminales). Todos ellos quedan representados en una junta directiva de la Wayne Corp que, quitado de en medio Bruce, dirige la empresa hacia las actividades más lucrativas, mandando al vertedero el espíritu utópico de su padre. La progresión recorre un hilo temporal nítido (Vietnam, la contracultura, el terrorismo de los 70...) y conduce hacia un desenlace donde lo superheroico se hace importante (una Crisis doble) aunque quede desdibujado por la elección del guionista de cómo desarrollar el argumento. La ausencia de tensión se acrecienta con el trabajo de aliño de Allred, un poco toma el dinero y corre (muchas splashpages sin sentido, algunas feas a rabiar) y un par de secuencias de acción confusas. Pero en su mayoría por encima de un mínimo que muchos dibujantes matarían por que fuera su estándar.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first half and art well enough, but the ending didn’t totally work for me. It was interesting and ambitious, but the execution left a lot to be desired. 3/5 stars.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like Superman: Space Age before it, Batman: Dark Age re-examines all the major plot points of Bruce Wayne's life from a slightly shifted viewpoint. Because this is Mark Russell, the shift is mainly "What if Wayne Enterprises were evil?" So, Gotham is crime-ridden for a very specific reason: Wayne Enterprises is encouraging criminal behavior.

Somehow, this means that putties are running the streets, causing havoc, but it still brings Bruce Wayne out of his dissolute youth into Batman mode. Russell hits all the usual beats (training montage, this time in Vietnam with Ra's al-Ghul; Joker's introduction, this time as an actual failed comic), making them fun and new even as they're familiar. It's solid, middle-of-the-road stuff, which was similarly appealing in Space Age.

That said, whereas the Allred's shiny, big-eyed art style was perfectly fine for Superman, it looks awfully weird with a dark, brooding protagonist. This is Batman for fans of the '60s TV series, at least visually. The plot also feels less tight than Space Age, with numerous peaks and troughs. For example, the big battle with al-Ghul feels like a natural conclusion...except the story goes on to a quickie battle with the Joker that has an unexpectedly huge outcome.

Dark Age is mostly a fun excuse to revisit Mark Russell's DC sandbox. There are plenty of crossover moments with Space Age, which suggests that we'll soon be getting another shifted take on some DC hero.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

It starts quite different to other Batman stories but by issue 4 it does seem pretty straightforward. Due to Bruce's origins, I do wish he would act different or be somehow different to mainstream Batman. I don't know how so maybe that's unfair, but he's the same guy.

It's enjoyable and has some laughs in it. Allreds' work is nice.

[Mocassin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Après avoir revisité la vie des Fantastic Four et de Superman au fil de l'Histoire, Mark Russell s'attaque à Batman. S'il ne s'agit pas du même que celui croisé dans Superman Space Age, il vaut tout de même mieux l'avoir lu avant puisqu'il en reprend des éléments structurants tout en étant plus distant de ses enjeux cosmiques.

Si le récit ne manque pas de qualité et propose une relecture valide de cet univers, je n'y ai pas autant accroché que pour Superman. Déjà visuellement puisque même si j'aime la patte des Allred, elle convient à mon sens moins au Chevalier Noir. Narrativement, je constate aussi une petite fatigue du style de Russell, plein de métaphores et morales de vie qui lorgnent vers le banal à force de les lire.

Pour résumer, une chouette relecture dont l'appréciation dépendra du passif que le lecteur entretient avec l'Œuvre de l'auteur.

[Tom Zilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ironically more fun than Superman: Space Age, with some genuinely funny moments, especially in the first half.
Space Age is still the superior story though, with this feeling kind of like a watered down version of that.

[Tony Laplume · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. Well. I think I’ve officially had my fill of Mark Russell.

I still love what he accomplished with Superman: Space Age. That’s exactly everything he always hoped to accomplish, to say about the world. Everything else, it seems, is Russell flailing his arms about. I just reread Prez, his political satire, and that was Russell believing internet logic actually explains anything. Now I’ve finished Batman: Dark Age, in which he deconstructs Batman and/or DC mythos while adhering to all its logic as it’s accumulated over the years, and finding nothing much at its heart. Almost finds something. But doesn’t.

Russell clearly doesn’t actually know much. He doesn’t know history, he doesn’t understand heroes. I kind of hate the current interpretation of Batman, in the comics, because it constantly assumes Batman doesn’t help solve problems simply because the comics need the crisis to continue. It assumes the status quo is Batman’s fault. And that’s kind of where Russell stands on the subject. It’s where we’ve been in this country since at least the Civil War, in which we finally let politics win and doomed its aftermath to an unsolvable quagmire, and for a hundred and fifty years we’ve been happy to interpret it that way despite knowing we had at least one Roosevelt who didn’t let the nonsense control the narrative, until the nonsense cancelled even him out (Teddy).

So we really have to be careful about the narratives we believe. How often in recent history has the narrative actually benefited anyone but the ones telling it? I’m not a revolutionary. I’m not a reactionary. I’m not telling you to question the system. But gosh, you can demand better. Because better is possible. It’s just the willingness to not accept someone telling you good enough is good enough. Because usually good enough only works for those privileged enough to sit above the fray, who fret over the results but never do anything about them except, maybe, ensure they stay that way.

Russell conjures a happy ending despite everything. He doesn’t really know how to get there, so he just skips to it and has Bruce Wayne see the results without really having achieved any of them, a kind of reverse Moses, really. But I suppose that’s pretty much the point, right? The movies have been telling this story better. Heck, even Batman Forever. Ironically.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russell tells a different version of Batman’s origin story and major life events in an alt history take on the 60s/70s/80s with a heavy focus on progressive social commentary. I usually appreciate Russell’s sociopolitical writing, but it really dragged for me here and felt more like an unpublished lore bible an author might sketch out to establish the parameters of the world they then tell a story framed by. The end result is like a long-winded thought exercise building out an Elseworlds setting while incorporating familiar Batman details, but the thought exercise is rarely surprising or interesting and there’s not really any engaging character writing to fall back on otherwise. The art by the Allreds is in their usual pop art style; it’s neat enough, but has a static sameness and lack of surprise about it that sort of bored me the more I looked at it.

“There’s no need to break the rules when you’re the one writing them.”

“The problem with masks…all masks…is that sooner or later, they come off. Leaving you exposed for what you really are. And what you are is everything you did while you thought you could get away with it.”

“Gentlemen, I don’t wish to panic you. That said, I invite you to join me in the panic room.”

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Russell und die Allred-Familie liefern eine alternative Version der Fledermaus außerhalb der gewohnten Kontinuität. Batman: Dark Age nimmt sich einige Freiheiten mit dem Batman-Mythos heraus, fühlt sich aber für langjährige Fans der Figur letztlich doch recht vertraut an. Die Geschichte beginnt mit einem gealterten Bruce Wayne, der in einem Altersheim lebt, wo sein körperlicher und geistiger Zustand aufgrund seines fortgeschrittenen Alters stark nachlässt. Der ältere Bruce erinnert sich mit gemischten Gefühlen an seine Karriere als Batman.

In Rückblenden schreitet die Story durch verschiedene Perioden der Historie und zeigt Batmans Entwicklung als Verbrechensbekämpfer, wobei er durchgehend gegen die False Face Society und andere Elemente des organisierten Verbrechens bestehen muss, aber auch die üblichen Schurken dürfen natürlich nicht fehlen.
Diese Geschichte wirft einen wehmütigen und nostalgischen Blick auf eine klassische Figur, hier und da ist auch eine Prise Humor eingestreut, und obwohl sie in erster Linie aus der Sicht eines angeschlagenen und gebrochenen älteren Mannes erzählt wird, ist der Batman, den wir am Ende sehen, allein vom Geist her immer noch eine überragende Figur.

[Tue Le · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael and Laura Allred did a fine job drawing this comic book. In particular, I liked the design of Mrs. Wayne on that fateful night.

Mark Russell, however, was not the best Batman writer. While he certainly put in a lot of effort, this paled in comparison to The Batman Adventures by Kelley Puckett or the DC Animated Universe of the 1990s and 2000s. Having said that, there was merit in having Thomas and Martha Wayne tell Bruce to stay home on that terrible night. This was an improvement over the standard origin story of Batman. Why would a murderer leave behind a living witness?

I also have issues with the notion of public housing as a solution to poverty or urban decay. This is a problem that could be tackled more efficiently by the free market. All the local government really needs to do here is to step out of the way by relaxing zoning restrictions to allow the private sector to build more housing of all types to cater to all potential buyers or renters. Experience shows that public housing projects not only fail in their purpose but also act as seeds of crime-infested neighborhoods. The government is just wasting taxpayers' money here.

[Drake Zappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst not quite as good as Superman Space Age (a book that made me cry), this is still a worthy book for me to have read on Batman day, and an interesting addition the Russell and Allred's elseworlds series. It undoubtedly works as a competent companion to Space Age, but also as an extremely fresh take on the Bat-mythos; I highly respect just how different a direction the team had been willing to take this and Space Age in, and as a huge Batman fan, it was refreshing to see such a boldly unique story told entirely outside of the constraints of current continuity, but still working within such particular limitations which being an intriguing concept into a tighter, intense pace/implied box to play within. Would happily have more of these from the Russell and Allred team, fantastic stuff with a solid foundation laid for a longstanding arc which could end in its very own crisis event made of many crisis events; the way this particular world and portrayals of age old characters operates has really piqued my interest and makes me crave for more of what it has to offer.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Superman: Space Age, so I was very much looking forward to Batman: Dark Age. Parts of this story were seeded in the original series, but we get to really focus in on Bruce and his journey here, which is both a good and bad thing.

I'm not sure if it's a pacing thing, because the page count here is almost the same - Space Age was three oversized issues while Dark Age was six normal sized ones - but something feels off. Batman's story moves forward in fits and starts, and it doesn't seem to have much link to what Russell was doing in Space Age aside from some appearances by Pariah here and there. The framing sequence featuring Old Bruce in a nursing home also doesn't ultimately end up going anywhere, unfortunately.

Mike Allred's art can't be faulted though, so there's that to be grateful for.

Not bad, but not quite reaching the heights of Space Age. Maybe my expectations were too high.

[Jacob Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superman Space Age started boring for me, but quickly found its footing and became one of the best Elseworlds stories and universe.

I thought for sure I had a grasp on things when starting this book and then it right hooked me, we ain’t in the same universe anymore!! The twists and turns are fantastic here just like Space Age but they certainly apply to my Batman fanboy sensibilities more. I did get a bit tired around book 4 but we got through that, and idk what yall are talking about, the ending is FANTASTIC. I love the ending.

Mark Russell writes these characters very thoughtfully, these characters are introspective and hopeful; even when Bruce is still much more brooding than Superman.

I came out the other side of these two books a big fan of Mark’s writing and hope for more Ages of sorts, but let’s not do this version of the Flash unless in Flash: Fast Age he’s a lot less bumbling heheheeeee

[drown_like_its_1999 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce Wayne is winding down the remaining years of his eventful life in a Gotham nursing home trying to remember the seminal moments that shaped him and his tenure as Batman. From the unbridled optimism present in his childhood during the late 50s to the cynical aimlessness he developed during his participation in the Vietnam War, Bruce reflects on how these events shaped his decision to don the cowl and help Gotham become the city it once was.

This was a pretty well executed reimagining of Batman within a 20th century lense, taking what parts of the lore Russell enjoys and modifying the rest to construct a cohesive narrative for the entire life of Bruce Wayne. The tone and aesthetic reminds me of "New Frontier" by Cooke, yet presents a story with a narrower focus told over a much longer timespan. The reinterpretations of classic Batman characters is enjoyable like any elseworlds comic but elevated by Russell's pension for cultural introspection and the cohesiveness of the world crafted. I especially enjoyed Mad Hatter retooled as a sort of criminal Timothy Leary and Wayne Corp as a callous, greedy institution that looks to profit from the declining state of Gotham in any way they can. The Allred's art is typically engrossing, especially when rendering the more optimistic retro-futuristic settings, and suits the content well. While no aspect of the storytelling reaches the heights of Russell's best, this was an entertaining and well helmed adventure that had me engaged throughout.

[Ruz El · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked "Superman: The Silver Age" by this team just a little bit more, but this was dead solid all the same. An alternate to the normal Batman mythos finds a declining Bruce Wayne trying to write down his memories before they disappear. The mythos changes are interesting, but the real surprise in this is the tone. This Batman is driven by a firm belief that a city can only exist by the co-operation and care of it's people for others. Which doesn't make him jolly, but it's a great balance to the grim & gritty sociopath Batman that is more common these days.

This is a standalone, but there are links to the Superman book which makes me hopeful they do at least a third with Wonder Woman as I have no idea what they would do with Wonder Woman, but she's a natural for a "Golden Age" and I'd love to see it.

[Mykhailo Gasyuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Якби я знав, що це спінофф міні-серії “Супермен: Космічна доба”, то я б не купив цей комікс. Але ж ні, не знав, і це було імпульсивною покупкою. Насправді жалкувати тут немає про що, бо історія хоч місцями і нуднувата, але своїм фіналом виправдовує витрачені кошти. Та й сприймається вона нормально як самостійний твір.

Це черговий альтернативний всесвіт, де Бетмен дожива свого віку в притулку і проходить терапію у вигляді написання щоденника, аби відновити пам’ять. І виявляється, що реальність Бетмена - практично наш з вами світ, це оповідка про Брюса Вейна в сучасній історії. Оріджин з батьками трохи змінили, лиходіїв зробили надмогутніми, Брюс з мажора перетворюється бійця таємного спецзагону, а потім на Бетмена, який бореться проти власної корпорації. Доки не настає фінал, який просто вибиває дух з тіла.

[Emile Rudoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usualmente no leo elseworlds pero por otro lado intento leer todo lo que puedo de Mark Russell. Me gustó bastante. Me pareció una interesante historia de origen de Batman. En particular disfruté mucho la manera de presentar a Mad Hatter y Joker. Del primero, como un líder de una especie de secta al estilo Charles Manson, se me hizo súper original y creo que sería algo interesante de explorar en cómics en continuidad o mejor aún en alguna película. Del segundo me gustó que en realidad no fuera tanto un villano sino un personaje trágico.

El arte de Mike Allred es excelente. Es uno de los mejores dibujantes contemporáneos y este tipo de historias le quedan perfectas.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of like a "life story" (the Marvel kind) version of Batman as he ages in real time and experiences some of the historical aspects of the 20th century (like learning his skills as a covert op in the Vietnam War, under the tutelage of Ra's al Ghul). Things go a bit differently for Bruce in this version, but a lot of his rogue's gallery show up, again in slightly altered form: Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, etc. Not a real huge fan of the artwork, which I know some readers just love, but it does the job. On the whole, I enjoyed this quite a bit. Will have to track down the Superman companion volume.

[Jackson Gallati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Russell is an author whom I'll always read; his ability to seamlessly weave thought-provoking social critique into major IPs has always enthralled me.

His take on Batman remains the same from "Space Age" but now it gets full focus; the ways in which this and that entry play with one another is brilliant and makes me want to read them back to back next time.

The Allreds are artists I required a little more warming up to: I didn't love their visual style at first but it's so original, seemingly unimitative of any other modern comic artist, and their layouts are often top-notch.

I hope "Wonder Woman: Golden Age" comes next!

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Russell and the Allreds return to give us a companion piece to Superman: Space Age. You've got the same thing as that book going on with Bruce Wayne growing up in the 60s through the 80s, but retelling his story as an old man in 2030. Things take a pretty different turn for Bruce and how he becomes Batman. I quite liked it. I really loved the ending, especially if you read Space Age first. The Allreds art is as gorgeous as always. I'd buy a grocery list from them if Mike drew it and Laura colored it.

[Ángel Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historia... irregular, lápices magníficos. Mark Russell podía haber dado mucho más de sí, qué duda cabe, pero el gran Michael Allred está tan espectacular como siempre. Un poquillo de decepción sí que me he llevado, la verdad: da la impresión de que lo que podría haber sido una historia memorable se ha quedado a medio gas. Pero bueno, sigue siendo superior al 90 por ciento de los cómics del mercado, así que, ni tan mal, amigos.

[Aaron Clover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as Superman: Space Age, and the reinventions didn't work as well for me, but the good writing and art make it an enjoyable read.